Long Island Creek Stream Restoration


Before and After

Long Island Creek - Powers Chase Circle Culvert

The restoration project was located at the intersection of Powers Ferry Road and Powers Chase Circle NW. As seen below in the following three pictures, one of the major problems at this site was a truck load of stones dumped at the upstream pipe mouth. The mound of stones, in effect, made a dam that during peak flow redirected the stream to divert around on one side. The diverted water caused large erosion problems.

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The Kennesaw State University GEOG 4100 Watershed class worked with Sandy Springs Watershed alliance to restructure the dam into a form that better suites Long Island Stream peak flow. The stones where shifted to protect the upstream left bank. A cluster of stones was used to build a loose rock retaining wall at the base of one tree in the hopes to save the tree. That particular location faced the culvert opening and therefore received the brunt of the stream force.

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The KSU crew used coconut fiber riprap staked into place to shore the upstream right bank. Stones were placed on to the material for additional stability.


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In these images the stones have been spread around for a smooth transition from the pipe to the downstream creek bed. Stones have been used to support the steep banks which completed this one day project. Several team members trimmed tree branches with chain saws.
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Trash Collected

In the images below, garbage is collected into many exlarge garbage bags and a large pile of wood and branches are ready for trash pickup.

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Long Island Creek - Powers Ferry Road culvert

At the downstream view is the culvert that runs under Powers Ferry Road. As you can see from the images below, the stream meets the pipe at a strange angle. This angle is the source of conflict for this portion of the stream. The water dynamics at this location is carving away at the earth beneath the pipe and the road. The KSU work crew moved stones from nearby into the holes both beside the pipe and beneath the pipe. Then stones were place in the stream bed and dirt was used to fill the area to the mouth of the pipe. The dirt was used from the stream banks to soften the harsh angle.
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Before the work begins.
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In the images above, stones are being used to support the undercut erosion on the downstream left bank.
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After the stream bed was filled with dirt, small "speed bumps" were created to slow the water before it reached the pipe opening. A loose rock retaining was constructed near the pipe mouth to support the bank and resist erosion.


The below image is the upstream view from the Powers Ferry road culvert before the work begins.
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Upstream view of Long Island Creek with the work nearly complete.
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To see a YouTube video on this KSU project please click here and here .



Kennesaw State University Watershed


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